ONE of the most devastating things in dentistry for patients is tooth loss.
It is an irreversible process and inevitable especially in old age.
Tooth loss has become a significant dental event known for its domino effect as it triggers a series of negative effects resulting in changes in the mouth, the face as well as the general well-being of a person.
It is far more than just a simple cosmetic issue.
There are many causes of tooth loss that include extensive tooth decay, severe gum disease initially causing tooth mobility followed by tooth loss and many others.
Tooth loss affects your quality of life, basic functions like chewing and smiling become challenging, altering one's sense of normalcy and confidence.
It is important to understand the consequences of tooth loss to seek timely treatment and explore replacement options to restore your missing teeth.
What are the consequences of tooth loss?
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In the human body, a small change can lead to different adaptive mechanisms in the oral cavity it is the same.
Tooth loss can be immediate in which you suddenly decide to visit the dentist and you are told that all your teeth need to be extracted or gradual in which extraction is performed at intervals, but in all cases, there are consequences.
Immediate local consequences
- Bone loss (resorption)
One of the most significant and inevitable consequences of tooth loss is bone resorption (bone loss).
Normally to maintain a healthier bone, the jawbone requires constant mechanical stimulation during mastication to maintain its density and volume.
Without the stimulation of the bone by mechanical forces, the body begins to break down the bone and re-absorbing its minerals in anticipation that the bone does not need nutrition anymore since it is not being used.
This bone loss is irreversible, it begins during the first year after tooth loss and particularly the fastest during the first three months, though the extent of bone loss varies with age.
- Shifting and misalignment of teeth
The position of teeth is dependent upon the structural components surrounding the tooth as well as the neighbouring teeth themselves.
A missing tooth creates an unfilled gap or space and nature detests a vacuum, hence the teeth adjacent to the space left by the lost tooth will begin to slowly tip and drift to fill in the empty space.
The tooth that is opposite the gap also begins to over-erupt, which means that it will descend or move out of its socket looking mildly elongated because there is no opposing tooth to be in contact with.
These small changes can alter the appearance, the position as well as the function of teeth.
Functional and occlusal problems
- Compromised chewing (mastication)
Teeth have different functions depending on the type of tooth.
The molar and premolar teeth are essential for chewing and grinding, the incisors or front teeth are essential for biting and cutting, the canines located next to incisors are for tearing food.
Therefore, a missing molar tooth could greatly reduce chewing efficiency.
Eventually, overtime due to inability to chew properly, dietary changes occur often away from crunchy and healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, which will have an impact on overall health.
- Altered bite (Malocclusion)
Due to the tilting and shifting of teeth, there is a disruption in the position and the way your teeth tightly fit together when you bite and unfortunately this could lead to:
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
The TMJ connects the skull to the lower jaw, its position is also affected by teeth.
Due to the disruption of occlusion, it can cause a strain on this joint leading to painful headaches, clicking sounds and limited jaw movement.
- Food impaction
The new gaps created by the drifting and shifting of teeth become traps for food, which increases the risk for tooth decay.
Aesthetic and facial changes
- Collapse of facial features
The muscles and skin of your face are supported by the jawbone.
Your face’s vertical dimension (facial height) decreases because of significant bone loss from several missing teeth, particularly in the back.
This results in the sunken, aged look, with deep wrinkles around the lips, the chin turning forward and the lower face collapsing.
Overloading and tooth fracture
To make up for the lost chewing force, the remaining teeth must work harder.
Cracked teeth, shattered cusps and failed fillings can result from this severe stress.
The effects of tooth loss are progressive and interrelated.
Over time, what starts as a single missing tooth can result in bone loss, teeth shifting, facial changes and a deterioration in one’s physical and emotional well-being.
If you have encountered tooth loss it is not the end fortunately due to modern dentistry there are many ways to stop all these consequences from happening.
Dental implants, bridges and partial dentures can be of help.
Replacing missing teeth is not a luxury, but it is a crucial investment.
Patience Matambo (BSc Dental Surgery) champions the notion of improved dental literacy in Zimbabwe and Africa at large as an endeavour towards the realisation of the one health objectives. She can be reached at patiencedental2024@gmail.com.
